Conservation voters league endorses Driscoll today

Syracuse Mayor Matt Driscoll picked up the backing Tuesday morning of the New York League of Conservation Voters in his quest for re-election.

Rhea Jezer, a board member of the league’s Capital District chapter, delivered the environmental advocacy group’s endorsement during a 9 a.m. news conference at Driscoll’s Erie Boulevard East campaign headquarters.

“We’re particularly excited (to back Driscoll) because of the accomplishments he’s had over the past four years,” Jezer said. “We’re very much looking forward to the next four years.”

She listed these among Driscoll’s environmental endeavors:

Advocating and getting a comprehensive land-use plan for the city, its first since 1918.

Working toward cleanup of brownfield sites and using a $500,000 state grant to aid their redevelopment.

Working toward rehabilitating Westcott Reservoir.

Replacing incandescent bulbs with light-emitting diodes in city traffic lights.

Powering City Hall exclusively from renewable energy sources.

The city’s environmental efforts under Driscoll’s watch earned the city the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s 2005 Climate Protection Award, Jezer said. The city’s application for the award noted annual savings of more than 20 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and a reduction of 11,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions a year since 2000.

“This is the kind of mayor we need across the state,” Jezer said.

“I’m very proud of this endorsement,” Driscoll said. “It substantiates the things we set out to do in 2001.”

Jezer said the league bases endorsements on candidates’ records, responses to its questionnaires and interviews.